SPRINGFIELD — One big victory proved to be all the momentum Josh Bass needed.
The Springfield High School sophomore finished first in the long jump at the Edwin C. Moses Relays at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium on April 24.
“It really boosted my confidence up a lot,” Bass said.
He followed that up with a win at the prestigious 34-team Don Mitchell Roosevelt Memorial Invitational on May 1-2.
Those wins were the catalyst to an unbeaten season and the Division I state track and field long jump crown.
For his accomplishments this season, Bass is the 2009 News-Sun Clark County Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Northeastern first-year coach Dan Phillips was named the 2009 News-Sun Clark County Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year after guiding the Jets to their second straight Ohio Heritage Conference victory and first-ever Clark County meet victory.
The awards are based on regular-season performance only.
Bass became the first state champion for the combined Springfield High School since the schools merged last fall. He did it with a leap of 23 feet, 2½ inches at the state track and field championships on June 6 at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
He’s still getting used to being a state champion.
“It’s a great feeling,” Bass said.
Phillips said the Jets set a goal to win the OHC, Clark County meet and the D-II district at West Milton.
They accomplished two of the three goals and were just 24 points behind champion Tippecanoe and 3.5 points behind runner-up Milton-Union at the district meet.
Phillips said a strong work ethic and an outstanding coaching staff helped his team succeed.
“They’re starting to see: ‘This does work if we work hard every day,’ ” Phillips said.
2009 Springfield
News-Sun All-Clark County Track and Field
Boys
First Team
Name School Grade Event
James Moore Springfield Jr. Sprints
Justin Burnett Northwestern Sr. Sprints
Ethan Deselem Northeastern Sr. Sprints
Alex Gaskins Springfield Jr. Hurdles
Brandon Cook Shawnee Jr. Hurdles
Reid Adkins Northeastern Jr. Hurdles
Gareth Graver Greenon Sr. Distance
Dustin Hines Shawnee Sr. Distance
Chris Lykins Kenton Ridge Sr. Distance
Aaron Hartzell Northeastern Sr. Jumps
Josh Bass Springfield Soph. Jumps
Tye May Springfield Sr. Jumps
Brad Warnock Shawnee Jr. Weights
Jake Masters Tecumseh Jr. Weights
Jimmy Muncy Southeastern Sr. Weights
Charlie Sroufe Shawnee Jr. Pole Vault
Second Team
Jake Casto Northwestern Sr. Sprints
Tony Carson Northwestern Sr. Sprints
David Numbers Kenton Ridge Sr. Sprints
Henry Scarff Tecumseh Sr. Hurdles
Kent Scott Springfield Jr. Hurdles
Caleb Burns Northeastern Soph. Hurdles
Mike Hutchins Kenton Ridge Jr. Distance
Michael Lanning Northeastern Jr. Distance
Alek Erwin Northeastern Soph. Distance
Onslow Williams Springfield Fr. Jumps
Hayden Gerhardt Northeastern Sr. Jumps
Nathan Hufford Northeastern Sr. Jumps
Brad Fain Shawnee Jr. Weights
David Matuke Springfield Sr. Weights
Jeremy Johnson Springfield Sr. Weights
Nils Oehlmann Greenon Sr. Pole Vault
Coach of the Year: Dan Phillips, Northeastern
Athlete of the Year: Josh Bass, Springfield
Girls
First Team
Shanay Portis Springfield Sr. Sprints
Jaylene Berrien Springfield Soph. Sprints
Erica Miller Greenon Fr. Sprints
Tasha Gardone Greenon Jr. Hurdles
Paige Cochran Kenton Ridge Sr. Hurdles
Angel Edwards Springfield Fr. Hurdles
Alison Steinbrunner Tecumseh Sr. Distance
Kasey Hosier Northwestern Sr. Distance
Mallory Kitts Northwestern Jr. Distance
Alea Taylor Springfield Jr. Jumps
Alison Tune Springfield Jr. Jumps
Kaitlyn Erlewine Northwestern Sr. Jumps
Chelsey Ball Northwestern Soph. Weights
Mandy Leece Shawnee Soph. Weights
Jillian Adams Northeastern Jr. Weights
Rachel Steiner Shawnee Sr. Pole Vault
Second Team
Chloe West Northwestern Fr. Sprints
Rachel Richardson Springfield Soph. Sprints
Haley McCohn Northeastern Fr. Sprints
Rickisha Cochran Springfield Jr. Hurdles
Savanna Leep Northwestern Soph. Hurdles
Shelby Hocter Southeastern Soph. Hurdles
Molly King Northeastern Jr. Distance
Mary Wenzell Greenon Fr. Distance
Addie Biteman Tecumseh Fr. Distance
Le’Aunna Rhodes Springfield Fr. Jumps
Carly Gregory Shawnee Fr. Jumps
Amber Hayslip Southeastern Sr. Jumps
Ashley Clarke Springfield Jr. Weights
Kaitlin Graves Kenton Ridge Soph. Weights
Amber Pernell Greenon Fr. Weights
Hillary Gracy Northwestern Sr. Pole Vault
Coach of the Year: Pete Smith, Springfield
Athlete of the Year: Alison Steinbrunner, Tecumseh
